New Peugeot 408

The new 408 is – alas – not a sedan as its surname would suggest. Indeed, Peugeot has made a habit of putting “double zeros” for SUVs (2008, 3008, 5008, etc.). But, wham, we change the naming plans and this “fastback”-looking SUV takes on a sedan number: 408. Note that in China it will be called 408X (pronounced “cross”), which seems more appropriate .

Anyway, we are dealing with a raised car, placed on rims that can go up to 20 inches. 4.69 m long, we are in the C segment. To energize the silhouette, Peugeot therefore gives it a receding roof line, and a body line that goes up. The rear bumper surprises with a “reverse cutout”. It extends the body side protections as well as the wheel arches.

6 colors will be available for the new PEUGEOT 408:

• Blue Obsession (new shade)
• Titanium Gray (new color)
• Artense Gray (Allure finish only)
• Red Elixir
• Pearl White Pearl
• Black Pearl Nera

At the crossroads

The Peugeot 408 is a bit at the crossroads of worlds (hence crossover), with a look that hesitates between sedan, SUV or station wagon. The height is 1.48 m which, again, is a medium, neither too perched nor too low in a sedan style.

Aware that SUVs have a bad reputation, Peugeot has worked on the frontal surface (SCx of 0.654 m2) but also the Cx which is 0.28. To compare with a 308 SW just released, the length is 6 cm longer, for a height 4 cm higher. On the boot side, this new 408 offers a minimum of 471 liters compared to 548 liters for the 308 SW (PHEV version).

Inside, we obviously find Peugeot’s i-Cockpit. The instrument cluster is displayed via a 10-inch panel from the Active Pack trim level. Optionally, it can be 3D. The central touch screen is also 10 inches diagonally. On the center console, there is the gear selector for the EAT8 8-speed automatic transmission. This very (too?) futuristic and complicated interior could confuse more than one.

A neat aesthetic

The front end is very elaborate with dark parts that highlight the metallic blue bodywork. The grille is refined in its design and the lights are reduced to the simplest: the two light blocks. The whole is inserted in a dark part.

This new Peugeot 408 is available with a 130 horsepower Puretech 1.2. This engine offers 230 Nm of torque and above all, allows the trunk to gain in volume compared to the two PHEV versions: 536 litres.

The two rechargeable hybrid versions precisely. They use the same 12.4 kWh lithium ion battery. With the on-board 3.7 kW charger, this allows you to simply plug into a domestic socket (about 7 hours on “full”) or a reinforced 16A socket (about 4 hours) or a wallbox (about 1 hour 40 minutes if you take the 7.4 on-board charger kW).

The HYBRID 180 e-EAT8 and the HYBRID 225 e-EAT8 offer 180 and 225 horsepower respectively. A 1.6 heat engine deploys 150 or 180 horsepower. It is mated to a 110 horsepower (81 kW) electric motor linked to the EAT8 automatic gearbox to transform it into an e-EAT8. Be careful, it’s not just the trunk that is reduced with the PHEV. Indeed, the 52 liter tank on the Puretech goes to 40 liters only.

• HYBRID 180 e-EAT8
• HYBRID 225 e-EAT8
• Puretech 130 S&S EAT8

Our opinion, by leblogauto.com

If we refer to the length and the carrying capacity, this new Peugeot 408 is measured against the Peugeot 308 SW. The basic trunk, in the PHEV version, is slightly smaller (63 liters) on the latest arrival, but all folded down, it displays 1611 liters against 1574 for the 308 SW PHEV. The PHEV engines are the same to complete the comparison.

There remains the style to decide between them with a classic but modern station wagon or an SUV Coupé, with a flattering look and more “massive” without being too much. Side consumption, advantage to the station wagon normally. It is up to you to make your choice.